Since alcohol can be very addicting, turning your back on it is usually not an easy task. This is most especially true if you are used to taking lots of it. Fortunately, you can always seek the help of professionals. Or you may also try reducing your cravings for alcohol with the help of certain foods.
We all know that moderate intake of alcohol (1 glass of it per day if you’re a woman and up to 2 glasses of it per day if you’re a man) can offer a number of health benefits, according to science.
However, it is a completely different story if you consume alcohol in excessive amounts. Right away, you can say bye-bye to all the scientifically-proven perks that come with moderate alcohol intake the moment you glug down lots of it. Your heart and liver can be in danger. Your work and relationships can be at risk, too.
Combating alcohol cravings is not an easy task. This is especially true if your regular consumption of it is way more than the recommended amount. If you wish to put an end to your addiction, certain steps may be done. One of them is the intake of the following foods that can help ward off those cravings:
Bread and Pasta
The more you try to stay away from alcohol, the more your body will crave it. Additionally, it will also make you long for sugar like crazy. The best way to deal with such is by reaching for foods that supply the body with complex carbohydrates — or good carbs — such as bread and pasta.
However, do make sure that you go for ones that are out of whole-wheat flour and not white flour which are bad for the health, according to nutrition experts. Oatmeal, brown rice and legumes are also superb sources of complex carbohydrates. Definitely, you should stay away from junk and fast food.
Parsley and Spinach
Including these couple of healthy vegetables in your everyday diet can help you stay away from alcohol more effectively. That’s because both of them contain the amino acid L-glutamine. According to scientists, L-glutamine is something that not only prevents alcohol cravings, but also withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and insomnia.
You can also obtain copious amounts of L-glutamine from meat like beef and chicken. Eggs and dairy products have the said amino acid, too. While there are L-glutamine supplements available on the market, it’s a good idea to first let your doctor know about your plan on taking them.
Sunflower Seeds and Bananas
The inclusion of dopamine-rich foods in your diet on a regular basis can be very helpful if you are trying to kick your habit of taking too much alcohol. The levels of dopamine, which is a type of neurotransmitter, in the brain tend to drop if alcohol is consumed in excessive amounts regularly.
Consuming sunflower seeds on a regular basis, according to nutrition experts, can help boost dopamine levels in the brain. It’s also a wonderful idea for you to eat bananas regularly. As a bonus, bananas help lower the blood pressure and keep at bay both depression and anxiety, which can strike while quitting alcohol.
Fruits and Veggies
Lastly, make sure that your everyday diet consists of servings of fresh fruits and vegetables. All of them supply your body with a wide range of nutrients. You need all the vitamins and minerals that you can get when overcoming addiction to alcohol to have your immune system strengthened.
The consumption of fruits and vegetables also helps in detoxifying the body as they contain impressive amounts of dietary fiber and antioxidants. Your liver, which is an organ damaged by excessive intake of alcohol, can benefit tremendously from the regular inclusion of fruits and vegetables in your diet.
Sources: elementsbehavioralhealth.com
